Vitamin B6 Sources, Benefits and Deficiencies

Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, is a water soluble vitamin. This implies that it can not be stored within fat cells. In other words, most of the amounts of vitamin B6 simply leave our body during the urination process. This also implies that we need a constant supply of this vitamin in our regular diet.

The primary function of vitamin B6 is to help immune system for producing anti-bodies. Antibodies are protein elements essential for fighting against diseases. Vitamin B6 helps in keeping homeostatic balance in the normal nerve functioning. It also aids in the production of red blood cells. Our body depends on vitamin B6 to break down protein content. Our protein intake is directly proportional to vitamin B6 requirement. That means, the more we eat protein based foods, more vitamin B6 we require to break down those protein elements.

Vitamin B6 Sources

Nature offers an abundant supply of vitamin B6. It is found in both animals and vegetables. You can depend on green beans, avocado, wheat germ, sea vegetables, chicken, fish, field salad, and bananas to fulfill your demand for vitamin B6.

Vitamin B6 Benefits

Vitamin B6 benefits us by fighting against various health complications. Vitamin B6 supplements are found to be of use for the treatment of hereditary sideroblastic anemia. However, it is prescribed only under strict medical supervision. Vitamin B6 benefits are quite apparent for treating and preventing pyridoxine deficiency. It also aids in treating neuritis. It is generally occurred due to certain health disorders, drug induced deficiency, and inadequate dietary intake. Vitamin B6 benefits in treating pyridoxine dependent seizures in newborns. It typically results from genetic pyridoxine dependency or from the over-dose of pyridoxine during pregnancy. The result is the occurrence of refractive seizure among newborns that can be regulated by intravenous administration of vitamin B6 with the help of expert health practitioners.

Vitamin B6 offers a whole host of benefits which include healthy management of nervous system functions, red blood cells formation and proper functioning, niacin formation, healthy hormone functioning, and nucleic acid synthesis.

Vitamin B6 is an essential component for synthesizing neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. However, few researchers argue about possible vitamin B6 benefits while investigating relationship between dopamine synthesis and involvement of vitamin B6. According to their report, there is no possible relationship between these two conditions. However, neuropathy can be treated with appropriate dietary supplements rich in vitamin B6.

Vitamin B6 is an effective supplement for treating carpal tunnel syndrome. However, excessive use of vitamin B6 for treating carpal tunnel syndrome may lead to neuropathy, as different scientific literatures claim.

Vitamin B6 benefits in treating premenstrual syndrome. However, there is no sufficient scientific data till date that supports this claim.

Vitamin B6 Deficiencies

Due to its abundance in nature, we could hardly avoid the potential vitamin B6 benefits. In USA , vitamin B6 deficiency is uncommon to see. In some rare cases, elderly American suffer from vitamin B6 deficiency that may generally occur as a result of poor diet with inadequate supply of nutritional contents. The typical symptoms of vitamin B6 deficiency include seizure, irritation, depression, confusion and other neurological complications.

A deficiency in vitamin B6 in combination with folic acid and vitamin B12 may boost homocysteine level in the blood stream. This is an amino acid naturally found in our blood. An increase in homocysteine level may increase the possibility of cardiac problems and stroke. High levels of homocysteine may injure coronary arteries. However, more clinical trials are needed to ensure the potential role of vitamin C in boosting the level of homocysteine.

Potential Health Risk

The fact is that vitamin B6 is water soluble and is expelled from the body through urination, but the prolonged usage of this vitamin may result in tender neurological symptoms referred to as sensory neuropathy. The symptoms may include intense pain sensation with feeling of numbness, difficulty in walking, etc. Hence, it is always recommended that you should only follow the prescribed medicinal supplements as suggested by professional health practitioners or doctors.